Poll: Washington, D.C. also the LGBT capital

The nation’s capital is the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender capital of the United States as well, according to a new Gallup study.

The polling firm calls the survey “The largest single study of the distribution of the LGBT population in the U.S. on record, and the first time a study has had large enough sample sizes to provide estimates of the LGBT population by state.”

It puts Washington, D.C.’s LGBT population at 10%.

Hawaii and Vermont rank second and third on Gallup’s list after D.C. The two states have LGBT populations of 5.1% and 4.9%, respectively.

North Dakota has an LGBT population of 1.7%, ranking 51st on Gallup’s list.

LGBT populations of all states except the District of Columbia fall within 2% percent of the national average of 3.5% with a margin of error of 2% as well.

Gallup’s margin of error in D.C. is 6% due to a smaller sample size. Alaska’s sample size was the smallest of all the states.

Gallup cautions against drawing too many conclusions about “broader patterns of LGBT migration” from its findings. While the firm says seven states where at least 4% of respondents identified as LGBT skew liberal, social stigma might prevent respondents from answering truthfully in others.

In another study, Gallup found that LGBT populations around the country are largely young, female and nonwhite, a demographic that is less likely to move.

A Gallup poll in 2011 showed that Americans consistently overestimate the country’s homosexual population at 25%. The more famous Kinsey Report in 1948 estimated the figure at 10%, while a New York Times exit poll after the 2012 president election reported 5% homosexual respondents.

Gallup’s 3.5% national figure tracks closely with a UCLA study in 2011, which estimated a 4% national average.